Australian electronics firm Kogan has implemented the world's first Internet Explorer 7 tax, claiming people using the browser are damaging the company and the Internet economy as a whole. (ed : Surely it should apply to IE6 as well).

From now on, customers buying goods on the Kogan website via IE7 will be presented with a brash warning message (above), and charged an additional 6.8 per cent on their items - 0.1 per cent for each month IE7 has been on the market.

In a company blog post proudly announcing the move (smiley emoticons and all), Kogan explained that their web team has been wasting time and money making the site usable on IE7, which damages the "efficient and streamlined" business and its efforts to maintain the affordable product prices it is known for.

The post adds, "It's not only costing us a huge amount, it's affecting any business with an online presence, and costing the Internet economy millions."

IE7 loyalists are further affronted by Kogan's pledge to "eradicate the world of the pain in the rear that is IE7!" It will be interesting to see if anyone is willing to shell out the extra cash on their goods out of principal or undying devotion to the old browser.